Sections

Defining Citizen Science

The term "citizen science" has been used to describe a range of
ideas, from a philosophy of public engagement in scientific discourse
to the work of scientists driven by a social conscience.

In
North America, citizen science typically refers to research
collaborations between scientists and volunteers, particularly (but not
exclusively) to expand opportunities for scientific data collection and
to provide access to scientific information for community members.

As a working definition, we offer the following:

projects in which volunteers partner with scientists to answer real-world questions."

Read more about the challenges and implications of developing a shared definition for citizen
science.